Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program for displaying information on multiple display layers

ABSTRACT

There is provided an information processing apparatus, including a display control section which determines which display layers out of a plurality of mutually overlapping display layers information is to be displayed on based on parameters associated with the information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/283,398, filed May 21, 2014, which claims thepriority from prior Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2013-114006filed in the Japan Patent Office on May 30, 2013, the entire content ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus,an information processing method and a program.

An information processing apparatus disclosed in JP 2009-53539A has aplurality of mutually overlapping display layers, and displaysinformation on each of the display layers.

SUMMARY

However, JP 2009-53539A is limited to disclosing an informationprocessing apparatus such as described above, and there is no disclosefor determining how information is to be displayed on each of thedisplay layers. Therefore, it is not able to be said that the displaylayers are effectively used. Accordingly, technology has been soughtafter which is able to more effectively use each of the display layers.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is providedan information processing apparatus, including a display control sectionwhich determines which display layers out of a plurality of mutuallyoverlapping display layers information is to be displayed on based onparameters associated with the information.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is providedan information processing method, including determining which displaylayers out of a plurality of mutually overlapping display layersinformation is to be displayed on based on parameters associated withthe information.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda program for causing a computer to function as a display controlfunction which determines which display layers out of a plurality ofmutually overlapping display layers information is to be displayed onbased on parameters associated with the information.

According to the present disclosure such as described above, sinceinformation displayed on each of the display layers is determined basedon parameters associated with this information, the display layers canbe more effectively used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view which shows an external appearanceconfiguration of an information processing apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view which shows an external appearanceconfiguration of the information processing apparatus according to thesame embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram which shows an internal configuration of theinformation processing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart which shows basic operations by the informationprocessing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on a display section;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on a display section;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on a display section;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on a display section;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the display section;

FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram which shows an example of an imagedisplayed on the front surface of the information processing apparatus;and

FIG. 41 is a side surface view which shows a correspondence relationbetween a distance from a viewpoint of a user up to each of the displaylayers, and a visual field of the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that,in this specification and the appended drawings, structural elementsthat have substantially the same function and structure are denoted withthe same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of thesestructural elements is omitted.

The description will be given in the following order.

1. External appearance configuration of the information processingapparatus

2. Internal configuration of the information processing apparatus

3. Basic operations of the information processing apparatus

4. Various display examples

<1. External Appearance Configuration of the Information ProcessingApparatus>

First, an external appearance configuration of an information processingapparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure willbe described in detail based on FIG. 1. FIG. 1A is a perspective viewwhich shows an external appearance configuration of the informationprocessing apparatus 10, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view whichshows an external appearance configuration of the information processingapparatus 10.

As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the information processing apparatus 10according to the present embodiment includes a half mirror 20, a mirror30, a display section 40 and a touch panel 100 as this externalappearance configuration.

The half mirror 20 is included within a housing 12 of the informationprocessing apparatus 10. Here, the surface through which light reflectedfrom the half mirror 20 and the mirror 30 passes (hereinafter, called a“front surface 12 a”), from among the side surfaces of the housing 12,is constituted by a transparent member. The front surface of theinformation processing apparatus 10 is a surface opposite to theviewpoint of a user. As shown in FIG. 1B, the half mirror 20 is inclinedtowards an interior direction of the information processing apparatus 10(that is, a y-axis positive direction). The mirror 30, which is inclinedsimilar to that of the half mirror 20, is arranged on a further interiorside of this half mirror 20, that is, on the y-axis positive directionside. The half mirror 20 and the mirror 30 overlap in the y-axisdirection.

The half mirror 20 is a mirror through which incident light passes froma rear side of this half mirror (that is, the y-axis positive directionside), and which reflects incident light from the front side of the halfmirror. Further, the mirror 30 is a mirror through which incident lightdoes not pass from a rear side of this mirror (the y-axis positivedirection side), and which reflects incident light from the front sideof the mirror.

The display section 40 capable of displaying information such as text(character) information or image information is arranged above the halfmirror 20 and the mirror 30 (that is, in a z-axis positive direction).The display section 40 is built into a housing 40 a. As shown in FIG.1B, the display section 40 is arranged so that a display screen 41 facesthe half mirror 20 and mirror 30 side (that is, a z-axis negativedirection side). By having the display section 40 set arranged such asthis, the display screen 41 is divided into two display regions by theupper sides of the half mirror 20 and the mirror 30.

Further, information displayed on the display screen positioned abovethe half mirror 20 (hereinafter, called a first display region 43) isreflected by the half mirror 20, and is directed towards the frontsurface 12 a of the information processing apparatus 10. Informationdisplayed on the display screen positioned above the mirror 30(hereinafter, called a second display region 45) is reflected by themirror 30, and is directed towards the front surface 12 a of theinformation processing apparatus 10 by passing through the half mirror20.

Therefore, a user recognizes that respective information is displayed asif on the half mirror 20 and the mirror 30, and that this informationoverlaps at the front surface 12 a of the information processingapparatus 10. That is, the user recognizes information displayed on themirror 30 as if it is displayed on the interior side of the informationprocessing apparatus 10, and recognizes information displayed on thehalf mirror 20 as if it is displayed on the near side of the informationprocessing apparatus 10. Therefore, the half mirror 20 and the mirror 30constitute separate display layers. The mirror 30 is arranged at aposition (interior side) farther from the viewpoint of the user thanthat of the half mirror 20. Hereinafter, the half mirror 20 will becalled a “near side display layer”, and the mirror 30 will be called an“interior side display layer”.

Note that, the user can select whether information of the interior sidedisplay layer is recognized or whether information of the near sidedisplay layer is recognized, by adjusting the focal point of the eyes.Further, by adjusting the focal point for which display layer will bedisplayed, since the display of the other display layer will be seen tobe blurred, it will be difficult for an uncomfortable feeling to occur,even if plural amounts of information are displayed which mutuallyoverlap.

By the above described configuration, the information processingapparatus 10 is capable of performing display of information which hasdepth, and can perform stereographic display of information. Here, forexample, it is possible for a display device, such as a CRT displaydevice, a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display device, an ELdisplay device or a lamp, to be used as the display section 40 accordingto the present embodiment. The touch panel 100 is included on the frontsurface 12 a of the housing 12.

While a description has been made in the above described description inthe case where the display screen of the display section 40 is dividedinto two display regions by using one half mirror 20, the display screenof the display section 40 may be divided into N+1 display regions byusing N half mirrors. By increasing the number of half mirrors to beused, it becomes possible for the display of information to be morehierarchized, and more information can be displayed without changing thesize of the display section 40. That is, in this case, the number ofdisplay layers can become N+1. Further, the half mirror 20 may becapable of being moved in the y-axis direction. In this case, the sizeof the first display region 43 and the second display region 45 changesin accordance with the position of the half mirror 20.

Note that, while a description has been made in the above describedembodiment in the case where the upper sides of the half mirror 20 andthe mirror 30 are inclined towards the interior direction of thehousing, and the display section 40 is arranged above the half mirror 20and the mirror 30, the lower sides of the half mirror 20 and the mirror30 may be inclined towards the interior direction of the housing, andthe display section 40 may be arranged below the half mirror 20 and themirror 30.

<2. Internal Configuration of the Information Processing Apparatus>

Next, an internal configuration of the information processing apparatus10 will be described based on FIG. 2. The information processingapparatus 10 includes a touch panel 100, a communication section 101, astorage section 102, a motion sensor 103, a display control section 104,and a display section 40. The information processing apparatus 10includes hardware configurations such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, acommunication apparatus, a display, a touch panel and a motion sensor.Programs for implementing the communication section 101, the storagesection 102 and the display control section 104 in the informationprocessing apparatus are recorded in at least the ROM. The CPU reads andexecutes the programs recorded in the ROM. Therefore, the touch panel100, the communication section 101, the storage section 102, the motionsensor 103, the display control section 104 and the display section 40are implemented by these hardware configurations. For example, the CPU,the ROM, the RAM, the communication apparatus, the display and themotion sensor are built into the housing 40 a.

The touch panel 100 is included on the front surface 12 a of theinformation processing apparatus 10 such as described above, and ispress operated by a user. The touch panel 100 outputs operationinformation corresponding to a pressed position to the display controlsection 104. The communication section 101 acquires various types ofinformation by communicating with various types of communicationequipment. Here, other than information to be shown on the displaysection 40, information which shows a present position of a vehicle orthe like, in the case where the information processing apparatus 10 isan on-board device of a car navigation system, can also be included asinformation acquired by the communication section 101. The communicationsection 101 outputs the acquired information to the display controlsection 104.

Other than the above described programs, the storage section 102 alsostores information to be displayed on the display section 40(hereinafter, called “display target information”). Here, for example,the display target information is not particularly limited, and is textinformation or image information. Further, the storage section 102stores the information to be displayed on the display section 40 and thepriorities (parameters) of this information in association with eachother. Here, the priority is a parameter for determining which of thenear side display layer and the interior side display layer informationis to be displayed on. It becomes easier for the display targetinformation having this priority to be displayed on the near sidedisplay layer as the priority increases. The priority of the displaytarget information tends to increase in the case where it is estimatedthat this display target information is necessary for the user. It isneedless to say that the parameters associated with the display targetinformation are not limited to that of the priority. That is, theparameters associated with the display target information may beparameters for determining which of the near side display layer and theinterior side display layer the display target information is to bedisplayed on.

The motion sensor 103 detects operations of the user (movements of thehands, head, line of sight or the like), and outputs this result to thedisplay control section 104. For example, other than performing controlof the entire information processing apparatus 10, the display controlsection 104 also performs the following processes. That is, the displaycontrol section 104 determines the display target information to bedisplayed on the near side display layer and the interior side displaylayer, based on the priorities associated with this display targetinformation. That is, the display control section 104 determines whichdisplay layer display target information is to be displayed on, based onthe priority associated with this display target information. Forexample, the display control section 104 may compare the prioritiesassociated with two types of display target information, may display thedisplay target information with the highest priority on the near sidedisplay layer, and may display the display target information with thelowest priority on the interior side display layer. Further, the displaycontrol section 104 may set a threshold in advance, may display thedisplay target information with a priority higher than the threshold onthe near side display layer, and may display the display targetinformation with a priority lower than the threshold on the interiorside display layer. Further, the display control section 104 may adjustthe priority of each type of display target information, based on inputoperations of the touch panel 100, operations of the user or the like.

<3. Basic Operations of the Information Processing Apparatus>

Next, basic operations of the information processing apparatus 10 willbe described based on the flow chart shown in FIG. 3. In step S10, thedisplay control section 104 determines display target information to bedisplayed on each of the display layers, based on parameters, that is,priorities, associated with the display target information. Then, thedisplay control section 104 displays this determined display targetinformation on each of the display layers. For example, the displaycontrol section 104 compares the priorities associated with two types ofdisplay target information, displays the display target information withthe highest priority on the near side display layer, and displays thedisplay target information with the lowest priority on the interior sidedisplay layer. Here, the display control section 104 may reduce thevisibility of the interior side display layer more than the visibilityof the near side display layer. In this way, the user can more easilyand visually recognize the display target information displayed on thenear side display layer. For example, a method which reduces luminance,or a method which shades off colors by a filter adjusting the lightingand shading of colors, can be included as a method which reducesvisibility.

In step S20, the display control section 104 adjusts the priorities ofthe display target information displayed on each of the display layers,based on input operations of the touch panel 100, operations of the useror the like. Then, the display control section 104 determines whether ornot there has been a change in the magnitude relation of the priorities,specifically, whether or not the priority of the display targetinformation displayed on the near side display layer has become smallerthan the priority of the display target information displayed on theinterior side display layer. In the case where it is determined thatthere has been a change in the magnitude relation of the priorities, thedisplay control section 104 proceeds to step S30, and in the case whereit is determined that there has been no change in the magnitude relationof the priorities, the display control section 104 ends the presentprocess.

In step S30, the display control section 104 switches the display targetinformation displayed on the near side display layer and the displaytarget information displayed on the interior side display layer. Thatis, the display control section 104 moves the display target informationdisplayed on the near side display layer to the interior side displaylayer, and moves the display target information displayed on theinterior side display layer to the near side display layer. Afterwards,the display control section 104 ends the present process.

<4. Various Display Examples>

Next, various display examples by the information processing apparatus10 will be described. While a description will be made as an example inthe following description in the case where the information processingapparatus 10 is an on-board device of a car navigation system, it isneedless to say that it is possible for the information processingapparatus 10 to be applied to an apparatus other than this. For example,the information processing apparatus 10 may be applied to a displaydevice for the home. In the case where the information processingapparatus 10 is an on-board device of a car navigation system, forexample, the information processing apparatus 10 is embedded within thedashboard of a vehicle. Also, the front surface 12 a of the informationprocessing apparatus 10 is directed towards the user side (for example,the driver side). For example, since the user is a driver, in the casewhere the information processing apparatus 10 is an on-board device ofcar navigation, the user will not be able to gaze at the informationprocessing apparatus 10, in particular, while driving. Therefore, it ispreferable that the information processing apparatus 10 is implementedso that the user is able to more intuitively and easily understand thedisplay target information.

(Movement Between Display Layers in Accordance with a LuminanceExchange)

As described above, in the case where the magnitude relation ofpriorities has changed, the display control section 104 moves thedisplay target information between display layers. For example, thedisplay control section 104 may erase the display target informationdisplayed by one of the display layers, and then may move the displaytarget information by displaying the display target information on theother display layer. However, if the display target information is movedbetween display layers in accordance with a luminance exchange, itbecomes possible to be implemented with more impact.

Movement between display layers in accordance with a luminance exchangewill be described based on FIG. 4 to FIG. 6. FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 showdisplay target information displayed on the first display region 43 andthe second display region 45 of the display section 40. FIG. 4 to FIG. 6implement luminance by performing lighting and shading of a hatching.The luminance increases as the hatching becomes thicker. The displaytarget information displayed on the first display region 43 is displayedon the near side display layer, and the display target informationdisplayed on the second display region 45 is displayed on the interiorside display layer. Here, an example will be described in which vehiclespeed information (information of a speed meter) 200 moves from theinterior side display layer to the near side display layer while beingenhanced, and an integrated value of luminance (an integrated value ofthe luminance of the near side display layer and the luminance of theinterior side display layer) increases. Note that, the luminancevisually recognized by the user is an integrated value of the luminanceof the near side display layer and the luminance of the interior sidedisplay layer.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, the display control section 104 displaysvehicle speed information 200 on the interior side display layer with alow luminance. Next, the display control section 104 enhances theluminance of the vehicle speed information 200 while being raised withinthe interior side display layer.

In the case where the vehicle speed information 200 becomes someprescribed size, the display control section 104 displays the vehiclespeed information 200 at a position within the near side display layer,which overlaps the vehicle speed information 200 within the interiorside display layer, such as shown in FIG. 5. Here, the luminance of thevehicle speed information 200 displayed on each of the display layersbecomes half the luminance of the vehicle speed information 200displayed on the interior side display layer immediately before. Byperforming such an adjustment, the integrated value of luminance can becontinuously changed.

Afterwards, the display control section 104 enlarges the vehicle speedinformation 200 displayed on each of the display layers (changes thesize of the vehicle speed information 200 in a same state). On the otherhand, the display control section 104 reduces the luminance of thevehicle speed information 200 within the interior side display layer(reduces the visibility), and raises the luminance of the vehicle speedinformation 200 within the near side display layer (raises thevisibility). That is, the display control section 104 performs aluminance exchange. Here, a method which reduces the luminance of eachof the pixel themselves, a method which reduces the luminance of aportion of pixels to zero or an extremely low value (that is, thins outthe pixels) or the like, can be included as a method which reduces theluminance.

Afterwards, as shown in FIG. 6, the display control section 104 erasesthe vehicle speed information 200 from the interior side display layer,and displays the vehicle speed information 200 on the near side displaylayer. By the above described series of processes, the user canintuitively know the vehicle speed information 200 in the direction theuser himself or herself is approaching. Here, the display controlsection 104 may perform this process during acceleration (when the valueof the vehicle speed information 200 rises). In this case, the user canmore intuitively understand that the vehicle is accelerating.

While the display control section 104 increases the integrated value ofluminance in the above described example, the display control section104 may perform the above described processes while the integrated valueof the luminance is made constant. Further, the display control section104 may perform the above described processes while the size of thevehicle speed information 200 is made constant. Further, the displaycontrol section 104 may perform the above described processes while theintegrated value of the luminance and the size of the vehicle speedinformation 200 are made constant. Further, the display control section104 may perform the above described processes while changing the colorof the vehicle speed information 200. For example, the display controlsection 104 may perform the above described processes while increasingthe color saturation of the vehicle speed information 200.

By performing the above described processes in reverse, the displaycontrol section 104 can move the vehicle speed information 200 from theinterior side display layer to the near side display layer while beingreduced, and can reduce the integrated value of the luminance (theluminance visually recognized by the user). The display control section104 may perform such processes during deceleration of the vehicle, forexample.

(Three-Dimensional Display)

Next, a three-dimensional display will be described. As described above,since display target information is displayed on both the interior sidedisplay layer and the near side display layer, the display controlsection 104 can stereographically display (three-dimensionally display)this display target information. However, the display control section104 can further increase the stereoscopic effect by devising a displaymethod of the display target information.

Here, a three-dimensional display will be described based on FIG. 7 andFIG. 8. FIG. 7 shows display target information displayed on the firstdisplay region 43 and the second display region 45 of the displaysection 40. FIG. 8 shows display target information displayed on thefront surface 12 a of the information processing apparatus 10 (that is,display target information displayed on one of the display layers whichis overlapping display target information displayed on the other displaylayer).

In this example, the display control section 104 sets reference points210 and 220 at the central portions of the interior side display layerand the near side display layer. Also, the display control section 104moves line images 215 from the outer edges of the interior side displaylayer towards the reference point 210, and terminates the line images atthe reference point 210. In addition, the display control section 104moves bubble images 225 from the outer edges of the near side displaylayer towards the reference point 220. Therefore, the user canintuitively know that the bubble images 225 move towards the interiorside as if within a three-dimensional space. Note that, the displaycontrol section 104 may display the bubble images 225 on the interiorside display layer and the line images 215 on the near side displaylayer.

(Navigation)

Next, navigation performed by the information processing apparatus 10will be described. An on-board device of car navigation often displaysmap information. The information processing apparatus 10 can alsodisplay map information. However, since the information processingapparatus 10 has a plurality of display layers, information other thanmap information can be displayed overlapping the map information. Thatis, since the information processing apparatus 10 can provide the userwith a greater variety of information, more appropriate navigation canbe performed. That is, the information processing apparatus 10 accordingto the present embodiment is anticipated to be used as next-generationcar navigation.

An example of navigation performed by the information processingapparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. FIG. 9 shows display targetinformation displayed on the first display region 43 and the seconddisplay region 45 of the display section 40. FIG. 10 shows displaytarget information displayed on the front surface 12 a of theinformation processing apparatus 10.

The display control section 104 displays map information 230 and apresent position marker 235 on the interior side display layer, anddisplays vehicle speed information 200 and rectangular images 240 on thenear side display layer. Here, the vehicle speed information 200 is anexample of vehicle travelling information related to travelling of thevehicle. The display control section 104 sets a reference point 220 atthe central portion of the near side display layer, and moves therectangular images 240 from the reference point of the near side displaylayer towards to outer edges. Therefore, the user can intuitively knowthat the map information 230 and the vehicle speed information 200 aredisplayed within a three-dimensional space. Further, since the user canintuitively know that the rectangular images 240 are moving towards thenear side, the user can intuitively know that the vehicle of the user istravelling. Further, the visibility of the map information 230 may bereduced so that the vehicle speed information 200 stands out. Forexample, the display control section 104 may reduce the luminance of themap information 230, or may shade the map information 230 by a filterwhich adjusts the lighting and shading of the colors. Further, thevehicle speed information 200 may be displayed with colors different tothose of the map information 230 so that the vehicle speed information200 stands out. In this way, the user can more intuitively understandthe vehicle speed. The rectangular images 240 may be displayed by eachof the examples shown below.

Here, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the priority of the vehicle speedinformation 200 is higher than the priority of the map information 230.However, in the case where the user gazes at the information processingapparatus 10 (it is possible for such gazing to be detected by themotion sensor 103), there is the possibility that the map information230 will be more necessary for the user than the vehicle speedinformation 200. Accordingly, in the case where the user gazes at theinformation processing apparatus 10, the display control section 104 mayreduce the priority of the vehicle speed information 200 more than thepriority of the map information 230, and may switch the display layersof this information. Further, in the case where the user makes anothergesture operation, for example, a gesture of swiping a hand in front ofthe information processing apparatus 10, the display control section 104may reduce the priority of the vehicle speed information 200 more thanthe priority of the map information 230. Further, in the case where someaudio guidance is performed (audio guidance such as asking to turn rightat the next intersection), the display control section 104 may displaythe map information 230 on the near side display layer, and may displaythe vehicle speed information 200 on the interior side display layer.Further, in the case where the map information 230 is moved to the nearside display layer, the display control section 104 may continue todisplay the vehicle speed information 200 on the near side displaylayer. In this case, the display control section 104 may display thevehicle speed information 200 and the map information 230 in a statecapable of being differentiated (for example, differences, luminance,colors or the like).

Further, the display control section 104 may perform a movement processbetween display layers in accordance with the above described luminanceexchange, when the vehicle speed information 200 and map information230, in particular, the vehicle speed information 200, is moved betweendisplay layers. Further, the display control section 104 may enlarge thevehicle speed information 200 within the same layer during acceleration,and may emphasize the luminance and colors. Similarly, the displaycontrol section 104 may reduce the vehicle speed information 200 withinthe same layer during deceleration, and may attenuate the luminance andcolors.

Further, the display control section 104 may display not only thevehicle speed information 200, but also tachometer information,remaining fuel amount information, water temperature information,distance meter information or the like, along with the vehicle speedinformation 200 or instead of the vehicle speed information 200, asvehicle travelling information.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show another example of car navigation. FIG. 11shows display target information displayed on the first display region43 and the second display region 45 of the display section 40. FIG. 12shows display target information displayed on the front surface 12 a ofthe information processing apparatus 10. In this example, other than theabove described vehicle speed information 200 and the rectangular images240, box images 250 also move back and forth between the center portionand the outer edges on the near side display layer. Further, the boximages 250 change color while moving. In this way, the user can moreintuitively understand the vehicle speed.

FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are another example of car navigation. FIG. 13 showsdisplay target information displayed on the first display region 43 andthe second display region 45 of the display section 40. FIG. 15 showsdisplay target information displayed on the front surface 12 a of theinformation processing apparatus 10.

In this example, other than the vehicle speed information 200, thedisplay control section 104 also displays an arrow image 260, whichshows the direction that the vehicle of the user is to proceed in, onthe interior side display layer. The arrow image 260 may be displayed ona display layer different to that of the vehicle speed information 200.Further, the display control section 104 displays the map information230 and the present position marker 235 on the near side display layer.In this example, the user can more intuitively understand the directionthat the user himself or herself is to proceed in.

(Overlapping Display of Vital Information of the User and VehicleTravelling Information)

Next, an example in which vital information of the user and vehicletravelling information is displayed overlapping will be described basedon FIG. 15 and FIG. 16. FIG. 15 shows display target informationdisplayed on the first display region 43 and the second display region45 of the display section 40. FIG. 16 shows display target informationdisplayed on the front surface 12 a of the information processingapparatus 10.

In this example, the display control section 104 displays vehicletravelling information on the interior side display layer, and displaysvital information of the user on the near side display layer.Specifically, the display control section 104 displays a vehicle bodyimage 270 which schematically shows the vehicle body, an engine image280 which schematically shows the engine, and images 290 whichschematically show the front and rear tires. In addition, the displaycontrol section 104 displays the acceleration of the vehicle, themaximum torque/engine revolution number, the remaining fuel amount, theload applied to each of the tires or the like. It is needless to saythat the display control section 104 may display information other thanthis as vehicle travelling information.

On the other hand, other than a person image 300 which schematicallyshows the user, the display control section 104 also displays the age,temperature, pulse, blood pressure, base metabolic rate, weight, BMI,body fat percentage, visceral fat level, degree of drowsiness (forexample, the frequency of yawning) and a fatigue level (for example, thefrequency of blinking per a unit time or the like) of the user. It isneedless to say that the display control section 104 may displayinformation other than this as vital information.

According to this example, the user can simultaneously understand thevital information of the user himself or herself and the vehicletravelling information. Note that, while the priority of the vitalinformation is higher than the priority of the vehicle travellinginformation in the example of FIG. 15, the display control section 104may adjust the priorities of each type of information based onoperations of the user or the like, and may switch the display layers ofeach type of information. Note that, for example, a sensor capable ofdetecting this vital information may be worn by the user, and the vitalinformation may be acquired from this sensor. Further, the content ofthe vehicle travelling information may be changed in accordance with thevital information of the user, and in this case, the user can easilyunderstand how the vehicle travelling information has been changed bychanges in the vital information of the user himself or herself. Thedisplay control section 104 may display the changed vehicle travellinginformation in a state different to that of other vehicle travellinginformation (luminance, color or the like). Further, the display controlsection 104 may selectively display information which the user hastouched, from among of the vehicle travelling information displayed onthe interior side display layer, on the near side display layer. Thedisplay control section 104 may perform processes similar to the casewhere the vital information is displayed on the interior side displaylayer. That is, the display control section 104 may selectively displayinformation which the user has touched, from among the vital informationdisplayed on the interior side display layer, on the near side displaylayer.

(Overlapping Display of Captured Images of the Rear of a Vehicle andIndication Images)

Next, an example in which captured images of the rear of a vehicle andindication images are displayed overlapping will be described based onFIG. 17 and FIG. 18. FIG. 17 shows display target information displayedon the first display region 43 and the second display region 45 of thedisplay section 40. FIG. 18 shows display target information displayedon the front surface 12 a of the information processing apparatus 10.Note that, an imaging apparatus which images directly behind thevehicle, an imaging apparatus which images the right rear, and animaging apparatus which images the left rear are included in thisexample. Also, the captured images captured by each of the imagingapparatuses are input to the display control section 104.

The display control section 104 displays a captured image 310 ofdirectly behind the vehicle on the central portion of the interior sidedisplay layer, displays a captured image 320 of the vehicle right rearon the right side portion, and displays a captured image 330 of thevehicle left rear on the left side portion. Further, in order to showthat the vehicle is travelling, the display control section 104 displaysa lattice image 335 extending from the central portion of the interiorside display layer to the lower edge portion of the interior sidedisplay layer, and moves this lattice image 335 in the lower edgeportion direction of the interior side display layer. Note that, in thisexample, a vehicle 310 a which is looking to overtake the vehicle of theuser is drawn in the captured image 310.

The display control section 104 displays a framed image 340 whichencloses the captured image 310 on the central portion of the near sidedisplay layer, displays a framed image 350 which encloses the capturedimage 320 on the right side portion, and displays a framed image 360which encloses the captured image 330 on the left side portion. Further,the display control section 104 displays an indication image (forexample, a framed image drawn by a red line) 340 a, which shows atarget, that is, the vehicle 310 a, to be visually recognized by theuser, overlapping the vehicle 310 a within the captured image 310. Inthis way, the user can easily understand a target to be visuallyrecognized by the user himself or herself. Note that, the displaycontrol section 104 may switch the display layers of each type ofdisplay target information, based on operations of the user or the like.Further, in the case where the fatigue level or drowsiness of the useris high, or in the case of travelling at night, the display controlsection 104 may switch the captured images to navigation.

(Overlapping Display of Captured Images of in Front of a Vehicle and aSpecific Captured Image or the Like)

Next, an example in which captured images of in front of a vehicle and aspecific captured image or the like are displayed overlapping will bedescribed based on FIG. 19 to FIG. 22. FIG. 19 to FIG. 22 show displaytarget information displayed on the first display region 43 and thesecond display region 45 of the display section 40. Note that, animaging apparatus which images directly in front of the vehicle, animaging apparatus which images the right side, and an imaging apparatuswhich images the left side are included in this example. Also, thecaptured images captured by each of the imaging apparatuses are input tothe display control section 104.

The display control section 104 displays a captured image 370 ofdirectly in front of the vehicle on the central portion of the interiorside display layer, displays a captured image 380 of the vehicle rightside on the right side portion, and displays a captured image 390 of thevehicle left side on the left side portion. Further, in order to showthat the vehicle is travelling, the display control section 104 displaysa lattice image 335 extending from the central portion of the interiorside display layer to the lower edge portion of the interior sidedisplay layer, and may move this lattice image 335 in the lower edgeportion direction of the interior side display layer.

The display control section 104 displays a captured image 370 on thenear side display layer. That is, in this case, the priority of thecaptured image 370 is higher than the priority of the other capturedimages. For example, in the case where the user turns his or her facetowards the left side, the display control section 104 may display thecaptured image 390 on the near side display layer, such as shown in FIG.20. In this case, since the captured image of the left side may benecessary for the user, the priority of the captured image 390 becomeshigher than the priority of the other captured images. For example, inthe case where the user performs an operation of swiping a hand to theleft side, the display control section 104 may perform similarswitching. Further, in the case where the user touches the capturedimage 390, the display control section 104 may perform a similarprocess. It is possible to determine that the user has touched thecaptured image 390 by operation information from the touch panel 100.The display control section 104 may perform a similar process related tothe captured image 380. In this way, the user can visually recognize adesired captured image at a desired timing.

Further, the display control section 104 may highlight an object withina captured image based on various factors. For example, in the casewhere the remaining fuel amount of the vehicle has decreased, thedisplay control section 104 may highlight a gas station 370 a within thecaptured image, such as shown in FIG. 21. In particular, in the casewhere the vehicle is an electric vehicle, since gas stations acceptablefor the electric vehicle will be limited, the effect according to thisprocess will be significant.

Further, the display control section 104 may highlight a restaurant atlunch time, and may highlight respectively different objects whilecommuting or during leisure. For example, a convenience store may behighlighted while commuting, and leisure facilities may be highlightedduring leisure. Further, the display control section 104 may not onlysimply highlight objects, but may also display the objects on the nearside display layer. Here, as shown in FIG. 22, the display controlsection 104 may not only simply display objects on the near side displaylayer, but may also display object-related information 400 related tothese objects (information such as a photograph, the name, or theaddress of the gas station in the example of FIG. 22).

Further, in the case where the vehicle passes a specific object within acaptured image, it is possible to perform a process which is said toperform a specific process (play music or the like). The specific objectmay not actually exist. For example, the display control section 104displays some object (for example, a CD) within the captured image, andin the case where the vehicle passes this object, a specific process(playing specific music or the like) may be performed.

Further, highlighting may also be performed on the interior side displaylayer. For example, in the case of transitioning from the state of FIG.21 to the state of FIG. 20, the display control section 104 mayhighlight a gas station 370 a in the captured image 370 within theinterior side display layer. Further, the display control section 104may display captured images captured at a position at which the vehicleis estimated to arrive, instead of captured images of the vehiclesurroundings, by a method similar to the above described method. In thiscase, the display control section 104 may estimate a position at whichthe vehicle will pass based on a vehicle travelling direction, adestination set by the user or the like, and may acquire captured imagescaptured at this position from a network. In this case, the displaycontrol section 104 is implemented by imaging with captured images inwhich a destination is arrived at by passing the present position of theuser.

(Overlapping Display of Captured Images of in Front of a Vehicle and anIndication Image)

Next, an example in which captured images of in front of a vehicle andan indication image are displayed overlapping will be described based onFIG. 23 and FIG. 24. FIG. 23 shows display target information displayedon the first display region 43 and the second display region 45 of thedisplay section 40. FIG. 24 shows display target information displayedon the front surface 12 a of the information processing apparatus 10.Note that, an imaging apparatus which images directly in front of thevehicle, an imaging apparatus which images the right side, and animaging apparatus which images the left side are included in thisexample. Also, the captured images captured by each of the imagingapparatuses are input to the display control section 104.

The display control section 104 displays a captured image 370 ofdirectly in front of the vehicle on the central portion of the interiorside display layer, displays a captured image 380 of the vehicle rightside on the right side portion, and displays a captured image 390 of thevehicle left side on the left side portion. Further, in order to showthat the vehicle is travelling, the display control section 104 displaysa lattice image 335 extending from the central portion of the interiorside display layer to the lower edge portion of the interior sidedisplay layer, and may move this lattice image 335 in the lower edgeportion direction of the interior side display layer. Note that, in thisexample, a person 370 b who is crossing in front of the vehicle of theuser is drawn on the captured image 310.

The display control section 104 displays a framed image 410 whichencloses the captured image 370 on the central portion of the near sidedisplay layer, and displays an indication image (for example, a framedimage drawn by a red line) 415, which shows a target, that is, theperson 370 b, to be visually confirmed by the user, overlapping theperson 370 b within the captured image 370. In this way, the user caneasily understand the target to be visually confirmed by the userhimself or herself. Note that, the display control section 104 mayswitch the display layers of each type of display target information,based on operations of the user or the like. Further, in the case wherea fatigue level or drowsiness of the user is high, or in the case oftravelling at night, the display control section 104 may switch thecaptured images to navigation. The display control section 104 maydisplay framed images 416 and 417 which enclose other captured images380 and 390.

(Exchange of Messages Between Users)

Next, an example in which an exchange of messages between users isperformed will be described based on FIG. 25 and FIG. 26. FIG. 25 showsdisplay target information displayed on the first display region 43 andthe second display region 45 of the display section 40. FIG. 26 showsdisplay target information displayed on the front surface 12 a of theinformation processing apparatus 10. Note that, in this example, amicrophone is included in the vehicle, and the user can input messagesby using the microphone. The messages input from the user are convertedinto text by the display control section 104, and are transmitted toother users from the communication section 101. The communicationsection 101 receives messages from the other users (may be text data ormay be audio data) and captured images of the other users, and outputsthe received messages and captured images to the display control section104.

The display control section 104 displays a message 435 of a user and anicon 430 which shows the user on the near side display layer in a timeseries. For example, the display control section 104 displays themessages directly after being received on the lower edge of the nearside display layer, and afterwards moves the messages in an upperdirection. In this case, the vertical direction of the near side displaylayer is a time axis. Further, the display control section 104 maydisplay the messages directly after being received on the outside edgeof the near side display layer, and afterwards move the messages towardsthe central portion of the near side display layer while being reduced.In this case, the depth direction of the near side display layer is atime axis. Further, the display control section 104 may display messageson the near side display layer only when the messages are received.

The display control section 104 may perform display together with theabove described rectangular images 240 on the near side display layer.The display control section 104 displays captured images of other userswho are exchanging messages with the user on the interior side displaylayer. In this way, the user can actually sense having conversationswith the other users. Other display target information (for example, mapinformation or the like) may be displayed on the interior side displaylayer. In the case where some spot (for example, a building, amusementpark or the like) appears during a conversation, the display controlsection 104 may retrieve the position of this spot and a route up tothis route, and may display this position and route on the interior sidedisplay layer (start of navigation).

(Notification that the User is Directed Towards a Destination)

Next, an example in which notification is performed that the user isdirected towards a destination will be described based on FIG. 27 toFIG. 30. FIGS. 27 and 29 show display target information displayed onthe first display region 43 and the second display region 45 of thedisplay section 40. FIGS. 28 and 30 shows display target informationdisplayed on the front surface 12 a of the information processingapparatus 10.

As shown in FIG. 27 to FIG. 30, the display control section 104 displaysmap information 230, which shows all of Japan, on the interior sidedisplay layer, and enlarges the map information 230 as the userapproaches the destination. The display control section 104 eventuallydisplays a destination marker 235 a near the central portion of theinterior side display layer. On the other hand, the display controlsection 104 displays band images 450 constituted of a plurality ofbubble images on the outer edges of the near side display layer, andmoves the band images 450 to the central portion as the user approachesthe destination. These band images 450 can serve as an example ofvehicle travelling information related to travelling of the vehicle. Inthis way, the user can understand more stereoscopically and dynamicallythat the user himself or herself is approaching the destination.

Notification that a Plurality of Users are Directed Towards a SameDestination)

Next, an example in which notification is performed that a plurality ofusers are directed towards a same destination will be described based onFIG. 31 to FIG. 32. FIG. 31 shows display target information displayedon the first display region 43 and the second display region 45 of thedisplay section 40. FIG. 32 shows display target information displayedon the front surface 12 a of the information processing apparatus 10. Inthis example, the communication section 101 receives present positioninformation of other users, and outputs this received present positioninformation to the display control section 104.

The display control section 104 displays map information 230 and adestination marker 235 a on the interior side display layer. On theother hand, the display control section 104 displays band images 460 to480 which show a movement locus of each of the users, and icons 460 a to480 a which show each of the users, on the near side display layer. Theleading edges of the band images 460 to 480 show the present positionsof the other users. In the case where the other users are moving invehicles, the band images 460 to 480 and the icons 460 a to 480 a canserve as an example of vehicle travelling information related totravelling of the vehicles. In this way, the user can obtain an actualsense that the user is directed towards the destination together withthe other users. This example is effective when performed, for example,in the case where a plurality of users have determined to gather at asame destination in the example of FIG. 25. The band images 460 to 480and the icons 460 a to 480 a may be displayed in mutually differentstates (luminance, color or the like).

Example of Visually Sensing a Fuel Charge)

Next, an example in which a fuel charge is visually sensed by the userwill be described based on FIG. 33 and FIG. 34. FIG. 33 shows displaytarget information displayed on the first display region 43 and thesecond display region 45 of the display section 40. FIG. 34 showsdisplay target information displayed on the front surface 12 a of theinformation processing apparatus 10.

As shown in FIG. 33, the display control section 104 displays lineimages 500, from the outer edges of the interior side display layertowards the central portion, on the interior side display layer. On theother hand, the display control section 104 displays band images 510constituted from a plurality of bubble images, and character informationwhich shows an accumulated value of fuel, on the near side displaylayer. The display control section 104 moves the band images 510 fromthe outer edges towards the central portion of the near side displaylayer, and terminates the band images. In this way, the flow of energyattracted to the central portion, that is, the fuel charged to thevehicle, can be visually sensed by the user. In other words, the displaycontrol section 104 can allow the user to intuitively andstereoscopically understand that fuel is being charged. This exampledeals with energy emotionally. The display control section 104 maydisplay a globe 515 on the central portion of the near side displaylayer. In this way, the display control section 104 can realize a statein which energy is consolidated into the globe 515.

(Overlapping Display of a Panoramic Image and Object-Related ImagesRelated to Objects)

Next, an example in which a panoramic image and object-related imagesrelated to objects are displayed overlapping will be described based onFIG. 35 and FIG. 36. FIG. 35 shows display target information displayedon the first display region 43 and the second display region 45 of thedisplay section 40. FIG. 36 shows display target information displayedon the front surface 12 a of the information processing apparatus 10.This example is similar to a so-called augmented reality (AR).

The display control section 104 displays a panoramic image 520 (forexample, imaging the surroundings of the vehicle) on the interior sidedisplay layer, and displays object-related information 530 related toeach object of the panoramic image 520 at positions overlapping theobjects from within the near side display layer. The object-relatedinformation 530 is word-of-mouth communication contributed from each ofthe users related to these objects, advertising messages contributedfrom the owners of the objects or the like. Further, the display controlsection 104 may display icons 530 a, which show links to different typesof SNS, on the near side display layer so that users can contributeword-of-mouth communication or the like from this screen. Note that, theicons 530 a may be displayed such as in the other examples.

(Stereoscopically Displaying Icons of Other Users)

Next, an example in which icons of other users are stereoscopicallydisplayed will be described based on FIG. 37 and FIG. 38. FIG. 37 showsdisplay target information displayed on the first display region 43 andthe second display region 45 of the display section 40. FIG. 38 showsdisplay target information displayed on the front surface 12 a of theinformation processing apparatus 10. In this example, the communicationsection 101 receives present position information and destinationinformation of other users, and outputs the received information to thedisplay control section 104. Hereinafter, the user of the informationprocessing apparatus 10 will be called a main user, and users other thanthe main user will be called other users.

As shown in FIG. 37, the display control section 104 displays an imagethe same as that of FIG. 33 on the interior side display layer. Thedisplay control section 104 displays icons 540 which represent otherusers (for example, number plate numbers which show vehicles the otherusers are driving, face photographs of the other users, photographs ofthe vehicles, user names or the like), and the above describedrectangular images 240, on the near side display layer. The displaycontrol section 104 may display the vehicle speed information 200 on thenear side display layer. In this way, the user can intuitively know thateach of the icons 540 is moving within a three-dimensional space.

The display control section 104 displays the icons 540 which representthe other users at display positions corresponding to the presentpositions of the other users. Some specific examples will be considered.For example, in the case where each user is directed towards a samedestination, the display control section 104 sets an axis connecting thepresent position of the main user and the destination as an x-axis, andsets a direction from the present position of the main user towards thedestination as a positive direction of the x-axis. Further, the displaycontrol section 104 sets an axis orthogonal to the x-axis as a y-axis.Also, the display control section 104 calculates x-y coordinates of thepresent positions of the other users. In addition, the display controlsection 104 also sets an x-y axis within the near side display layer.That is, the display control section 104 assumes that the centralportion of the near side display layer is the destination. Also, thedisplay control section 104 sets an axis from the outer edges of thenear side display layer towards the central portion as an x-axis (thedepth direction is a positive direction), and sets an axis orthogonal tothe x-axis as a y-axis. Also, the display control section 104 displaysthe icons 540 of each user at display positions corresponding to the x-ycoordinates of each of the users. Therefore, the icons 540 of theseusers are displayed at positions nearer to the outer edges of the nearside display layer as the distance from the destination up to each userincreases. Further, in the case where the other users are present on theright side with respect to the progress direction of the main user, theicons 540 of these users are displayed on the right side from thecentral portion of the near side display layer. According to thisexample, the main user can intuitively judge how near the other usersare approaching with respect to the destination. In this example, themain user can obtain a shared sense of time and actions with the otherusers. While the other users are assumed to have a friend relationshipon a network with the main user, the relationship between users is notparticularly taken into account.

Having respectively different destinations for each user, and assumingthat the destination of each user is at the central portion of the nearside display layer, can be included as another example. In this example,the display control section 104 sets an axis connecting the presentposition of the main user and the destination as a reference axis, andsets an axis orthogonal to the reference axis as a y-axis. Also, thedisplay control section 104 sets axes connecting the present positionsof the other users and the destinations of the other users as x-axes,and sets directions from the present positions of the other userstowards the destinations of the other users as x-axis positivedirections. That is, an x-axis is set for each user. In addition, thedisplay control section 104 also sets an x-y axis within the near sidedisplay layer. That is, the display control section 104 assumes that thecentral portion of the near side display layer is the destination foreach user. Also, the display control section 104 sets an axis from theouter edges of the near side display layer towards the central portionas an x-axis (the depth direction is a positive direction), and sets anaxis orthogonal to the x-axis as a y-axis. Also, the display controlsection 104 displays the icons 540 of each user at display positionscorresponding to the x-y coordinates of each of the users. Therefore,the icons 540 of these users are displayed at positions nearer to theouter edges of the near side display layer as the distance from the eachuser's destination up to each user increases. According to this example,the main user can intuitively judge how near the other users areapproaching with respect to the destination, even in the case where thedestination is different from that of the other users. In this example,the main user can obtain a shared sense of time and actions with theother users, even in the case where the other users act with differentpurposes to that of the main user, which are completely unrelated to themain user. It is needless to say that the other users may have a friendrelationship on a network with the main user. That is, the relationshipbetween users is not particularly taken into account.

In addition, indicating other users who are present between the presentposition of the main user and the destination can be included as anotherexample. In this example, the display control section 104 sets an axisconnecting the present position of the main user and the destination asan x-axis, and sets a direction from the present position of the mainuser towards the destination as a positive direction of the x-axis.Further, the display control section 104 sets an axis orthogonal to thex-axis as a y-axis. Also, the display control section 104 calculates x-ycoordinates of the present positions of the other users. In addition,the display control section 104 also sets an x-y axis within the nearside display layer. That is, the display control section 104 assumesthat the central portion of the near side display layer is thedestination. Also, the display control section 104 sets an axis from theouter edges of the near side display layer towards the central portionas an x-axis (the depth direction is a positive direction), and sets anaxis orthogonal to the x-axis as a y-axis. Also, the display controlsection 104 displays the icons 540 of each user at display positionscorresponding to the x-y coordinates of each of the users.

While this example is similar to the first example, it may not benecessary for each user to proceed towards the destination. That is, theusers directed towards the destination may be only the main user, andthe other users may remain at the present position, for example, to eat,sleep or the like. That is, the display control section 104 expresseswhat each user is doing in a form such as the movement of the icons 540.In this example, the main user can obtain a shared sense of time andactions with the other users, even in the case where the other users actwith different purposes to that of the main user, which are completelyunrelated to the main user. It is needless to say that the other usersmay have a friend relationship on a network with the main user. That is,the relationship between users is not particularly taken into account.

In each of the above described examples, the icons 540 of each user maybe normally displayed, or may be displayed, for example, at a timing atwhich each user transmits (contributes) messages (tweets) to the mainuser. Further, the display control section 104 may display only thedirection of movement of the other users on the near side display layeror the interior side display layer. Further, the display control section104 may display the icons 540 of users close to the destination near thecentral portion of the interior side display layer, and may display theicons 540 of users far from the destination near the outer edges of thenear side display layer. That is, the display control section 104 maydivide the display layer of the icons 540 in accordance with thedistances from the present positions of the other users up to thedestination.

(Display of a Game Screen)

An example in which a racing game screen is stereoscopically displayedwill be described based on FIG. 39 to FIG. 40. FIG. 39 shows displaytarget information displayed on the first display region 43 and thesecond display region 45 of the display section 40. FIG. 40 showsdisplay target information displayed on the front surface 12 a of theinformation processing apparatus 10.

In this example, the display control section 104 displays a course image550, a count image 560 which shows the remaining count number up to thegame start or the like, from among images constituting a racing gamescreen, on the interior side display layer. The display control section104 displays a character image 570 which signals the game start, varioususer interfaces (a speed meter 580, a tachometer 590 and map information600) or the like on the near side display layer. The display controlsection 104 may display the above described rectangular images 240 onthe near side display layer. In this way, the user can morestereoscopically recognize the racing game screen. Note that, the typesof images displayed on the near side display layer and the interior sidedisplay layer are not limited to those described above. Note that, thecharacter image 570 may be enlarged each time the count number of thecount image 560 becomes small. According to this example, the user canenjoy a game which provides a more realistic feeling. Note that, thegame capable of being displayed by the information processing apparatus10 is not limited to a racing game.

(Displaying an Image with a Size Corresponding to a Viewpoint Positionof the User)

Next, an example in which an image is displayed with a sizecorresponding to a viewpoint position of the user will be describedbased on FIG. 41. FIG. 41 shows a relation between a distance from eachof the display layers (half mirror 20 and mirror 30) up to a viewpoint700 of the user, and the visual field 710 of the user. Note that, inorder to facilitate understanding in FIG. 41, each of the display layersextends in a vertical direction (as shown in FIG. 1B, each of thedisplay layers are actually inclined with respect to a verticaldirection).

As shown in FIG. 41, an intersecting region (a region which can bevisually recognized by the user) between the visual field 710 of theuser and each of the display layers decreases as the distance from theviewpoint 700 of the user up to each of the display layers decreases.Accordingly, the display control section 104 reduces the image to bedisplayed on each of the display layers as the distance from theviewpoint 700 of the user up to each of the display layers decreases.Note that, for example, it is possible for the distance from theviewpoint 700 of the user up to each of the display layers to bedistinguished by information from the motion sensor 103. In this way,the user can more accurately and visually recognize informationdisplayed on each of the display layers.

According to the present embodiment as described above, the displaycontrol section 104 determines information to be displayed on each of aplurality of mutually overlapping display layers, based on parametersassociated with this information. Therefore, since the informationprocessing apparatus 10 can more appropriately determine information tobe displayed on each of the display layers, each of the display layerscan be more effectively used.

In addition, since the display control section 104 determinesinformation to be displayed on each of the plurality of display layers,based on a magnitude relation of the parameters, information to bedisplayed on each of the display layers can be more appropriatelydetermined.

In addition, since the display control section 104 determinesinformation to be displayed on each of the plurality of display layers,based on the parameters and a threshold corresponding to the parameters,information to be displayed on each of the display layers can be moreappropriately determined.

In addition, since it is possible for the display control section 104 tomove information displayed on any one of the display layers to anotherdisplay layer, each type of information can be more dynamicallydisplayed.

In addition, the display control section 104 displays information on oneof the display layers, then also displays the information displayed onthe one of the display layers on another display layer, and then reducesthe visibility of the information displayed on the one of the displaylayers. Therefore, the display control section 104 can more continuously(naturally) perform movement of information between display layers.

In addition, since the display control section 104 reduces thevisibility of the information displayed on the one of the displaylayers, by reducing the luminance of the information displayed on theone of the display layers (performs a so-called luminance exchange), thedisplay control section 104 can more continuously (naturally) performmovement of information between display layers.

The display control section 104 moves (for example, enlarges) the sizeof the information displayed on the one of the display layers. Next, thedisplay control section 104 also displays the information displayed onthe one of the display layers on another display layer, and then moves(for example, enlarges both) the information displayed on the one of thedisplay layers and the information displayed on the another displaylayer in a same state. Therefore, the display control section 104 canmore continuously (naturally) perform movement of information betweendisplay layers.

In addition, since the display control section 104 adjusts parametersbased on operations of the user, the display control section 104 canmore appropriately determine information to be displayed on each of thedisplay layers.

In addition, the display control section 104 determines information tobe displayed on each of the display layers based on priorities.Specifically, the display control section 104 displays informationestimated to be necessary for the user on the near side display layer,and displays other information on the interior side display layer.Therefore, the display control section 104 can more appropriatelydetermine information to be displayed on each of the display layers.

In addition, since the display control section 104 displays vehicletravelling information and map information on separate display layers,the user can intuitively and stereoscopically understand thisinformation.

In addition, since the display control section 104 displays vehicletravelling information related to travelling of the vehicle and vitalinformation of the driver on separate display layers, the user canintuitively and stereoscopically understand this information.

In addition, the display control section 104 displays captured imagescorresponding to a requirement of the user, from among captured imagesobtained by imaging each direction of the surroundings of the vehicle,on the near side display layer, and displays other captured images onthe interior side display layer. Therefore, the user can intuitively andstereoscopically understand this information.

In addition, the display control section 104 displays captured imagesobtained by imaging each direction of the surroundings of the vehicle onthe interior side display layer, and displays indication images, whichshow objects to be visually recognized by the user from among thecaptured images, on the near side display layer. Therefore, the user canintuitively and stereoscopically understand this information.

In addition, the display control section 104 displays captured imagesobtained by imaging each direction of the surroundings of the vehicle onthe interior side display layer, and displays object-related informationrelated to objects within the captured images on the near side displaylayer. Therefore, the user can intuitively and stereoscopicallyunderstand this information.

In addition, the display control section 104 displays captured imagescorresponding to a requirement of the user, from among the capturedimages captured at a position where the vehicle is estimated to arrive,on the near side display layer, and displays other captured images onthe interior side display layer. Therefore, the user can intuitively andstereoscopically understand this information.

In addition, the display control section 104 displays messages fromother users on the near side display layer, and displays informationrelated to the users who have transmitted the messages on the interiorside display layer. Therefore, the user can intuitively andstereoscopically understand this information.

In addition, the display control section 104 displays icons whichrepresent other users at display positions corresponding to the presentpositions of the other users within the near side display layer, anddisplays line images, on the interior side display layer, which extendfrom the outer edges of the interior side display layer to the centralportion. Therefore, the user can intuitively and stereoscopicallyunderstand this information.

In addition, since the display control section 104 determines a size ofinformation to be displayed on each of the display layers based on thedistance from the viewpoint of the user up to each of the displaylayers, the user can more accurately and visually recognize informationdisplayed on each of the display layers.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

For example, while the plurality of display layers are implemented inthe above described embodiment by using a half mirror 20 and a mirror30, the plurality of display layers may be implemented by stackingdisplays having transparency. That is, an implementation method ofmultiple display layers is not taken into account. Additionally, thepresent technology may also be configured as below.

(1) An information processing apparatus, including a display controlsection which determines information to be displayed on each of aplurality of mutually overlapping display layers based on parametersassociated with this information.

(2) The information processing apparatus according to (1),

wherein the display control section determines information to bedisplayed on each of the plurality of display layers based on amagnitude relation of the parameters.

(3) The information processing apparatus according to (1) or (2),

wherein the display control section determines information to bedisplayed on each of the plurality of display layers based on theparameters and a threshold corresponding to the parameters.

(4) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(3),

wherein the display control section is capable of moving informationdisplayed on any one of the display layers to another display layer.

(5) The information processing apparatus according to (4),

wherein the display control section displays information on one of thedisplay layers, then also displays the information displayed on the oneof the display layers on the another display layer, and then reducesvisibility of the information displayed on the one of the displaylayers.

(6) The information processing apparatus according to (5),

wherein the display control section reduces visibility of theinformation displayed on the one of the display layers by reducingluminance of the information displayed on the one of the display layers.

(7) The information processing apparatus according to (5),

wherein the display control section changes a size of the informationdisplayed on the one of the display layers, then also displays theinformation displayed on the one of the display layers on the anotherdisplay layer, and then changes a size of the information displayed onthe one of the display layers and a size of the information displayed onthe another display layer in a same state.

(8) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(7),

wherein the display control section adjusts the parameters based onoperations of a user.

(9) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(8),

wherein the display control section displays information estimated to benecessary for a user on any one of the display layers, and displaysother information on another display layer arranged at a positionfarther from a viewpoint of the user than a position of the one of thedisplay layers.

(10) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(9),

wherein the display control section displays vehicle travellinginformation related to travelling of a vehicle, and map information, onseparate display layers.

(11) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(10),

wherein the display control section displays vehicle travellinginformation related to travelling of a vehicle, and vital information ofa driver, on separate display layers.

(12) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(11),

wherein the display control section displays captured imagescorresponding to a requirement of a user, from among captured imagesobtained by imaging each direction of surroundings of a vehicle, on anyone of the display layers, and displays other captured images on anotherdisplay layer.

(13) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(12),

wherein the display control section displays captured images obtained byimaging each direction of surroundings of a vehicle on one of thedisplay layers, and displays indication images which show objects to bevisually recognized by a user from among the captured images on anotherdisplay layer.

(14) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(13),

wherein the display control section displays captured images obtained byimaging each direction of surroundings of a vehicle on one of thedisplay layers, and displays object-related information related toobjects within the captured images on another display layer.

(15) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(14),

wherein the display control section displays captured imagescorresponding to a requirement of a user, from among captured imagescaptured at a position where a vehicle is estimated to arrive, on anyone of the display layers, and displays other captured images on anotherdisplay layer.

(16) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(15),

wherein the display control section receives messages from acommunication section capable of receiving messages, displays themessages on any one of the display layers, and displays informationrelated to users who have transmitted the messages on another displaylayer.

(17) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(16),

wherein the display control section displays an icon which representsanother user at a display position corresponding to a present positionof the another user within any one of the display layers, and displays aline image on another display layer, the line image extending from outeredges of the another display layer to a reference point set within theanother display layer.

(18) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(17),

wherein the display control section determines a size of information tobe displayed on each of the display layers based on a distance from aviewpoint of a user up to each of the display layers.

(19) An information processing method, including determining informationto be displayed on each of a plurality of mutually overlapping displaylayers based on parameters associated with this information.

(20) A program for causing a computer to function as a display controlfunction which determines information to be displayed on each of aplurality of mutually overlapping display layers based on parametersassociated with this information.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: afront display; a back display arranged behind the front display in apredetermined direction; an input portion configured to receive inputoperation information; and at least one central processing unit (CPU)configured to, in accordance with the received input operationinformation, control the back display to remove a first image from theback display and control the front display to add a second image in thefront display, the second image being different from the first image andhaving predetermined information equal to that of the first image. 2.The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein asize of the second image is different from a size of the first image. 3.The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thesize of the second image is larger than the size of the first image. 4.The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theat least one CPU is configured to control the back display to displaytravelling information related to travelling of a user.
 5. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein thetravelling information includes map information.
 6. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: awearable sensor configured to detect vital information related to atleast one of an age, a temperature, a pulse, a blood pressure, a basemetabolic rate, a weight, a BMI, a body fat percentage, a visceral fatlevel, a degree of drowsiness and a fatigue level of a user, wherein theat least one CPU is configured to control the back display to displaythe detected vital information.
 7. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the at least one CPU is configured to:control the back display to display travelling information related totravelling of the user; and change the displayed travelling informationin accordance with the vital information.
 8. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input portion is a touchpanel arranged over the front display.
 9. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image has a colordifferent from a color of the second image.
 10. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predeterminedinformation is numerical information.
 11. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the frontdisplay and the back display has transparency.
 12. An informationprocessing method, comprising: receiving input operation information;controlling a back display to remove a first image from the backdisplay; and controlling a front display to add a second image in thefront display, wherein the back display is arranged behind the frontdisplay in a predetermined direction, and the second image is differentfrom the first image and has predetermined information equal to that ofthe first image.
 13. The information processing method according toclaim 12, wherein a size of the second image is different from a size ofthe first image.
 14. The information processing method according toclaim 13, wherein the size of the second image is larger than the sizeof the first image.
 15. The information processing method according toclaim 12, further comprising: controlling the back display to displaytravelling information related to travelling of a user.
 16. Theinformation processing method according to claim 15, wherein thetravelling information includes map information.
 17. The informationprocessing method according to claim 12, further comprising: detectingvital information related to at least one of an age, a temperature, apulse, a blood pressure, a base metabolic rate, a weight, a BMI, a bodyfat percentage, a visceral fat level, a degree of drowsiness and afatigue level of a user using a wearable sensor; and controlling theback display to display the detected vital information.
 18. Theinformation processing method according to claim 17, further comprising:controlling the back display to display travelling information relatedto travelling of the user; and changing the displayed travellinginformation in accordance with the vital information.
 19. Theinformation processing method according to claim 12, wherein the firstimage has a color different from a color of the second image.
 20. Anon-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon, a set ofcomputer-executable instructions for causing an information processingapparatus to perform steps comprising: receiving input operationinformation; controlling a back display to remove a first image from theback display; and controlling a front display to add a second image inthe front display, wherein the back display is arranged behind the frontdisplay in a predetermined direction, and the second image is differentfrom the first image and has predetermined information equal to that ofthe first image.